Michelle Rawlins, University Teacher in the School of Information, Journalism and Communication, has drawn on 30 years’ experience as a national journalist to create a comprehensive set of interactive guidelines, teaching materials and resources to help and support anyone reporting on domestic abuse, stalking, 'honour'-based abuse and harmful practices.
The Domestic Abuse Toolkit aims to support journalists to use the correct terminology, and to frame and present news stories in a way that centres the survivors of domestic abuse, rather than sensationalising the details. This builds on Michelle’s extensive work with charities, including focus groups in which survivors of domestic abuse shared their perceptions of the media.
Michelle Rawlins said: “After speaking extensively to survivors, it was clear many of them didn’t trust journalists and were worried reporters may not always reflect their lived experiences accurately or in a way that would help create positive change. This toolkit aims to empower the next generation of brave and ambitious student journalists at the University of Sheffield to report ethically and sensitively on domestic abuse, in all its nuanced guises, in a way that will create positive and meaningful change. At the same time it will help experienced journalists and editors think about how articles are framed and presented in a supportive and thoughtful way that will help all those affected by domestic abuse.”
Over the coming weeks, Michelle will be delivering the toolkit to journalists and educators including some of the country's biggest news and magazine organisations, such as Newquest Media Group and Future, as well as presenting to the VAWG Independent Advisory Group and at the AJE UK summer conference.
The Domestic Abuse Toolkit has been funded by the Association for Journalism Education (AJE) UK, and developed in collaboration with several charities including Sheffield Women's Aid, IDAS (Independent Domestic Abuse Service), SAVERA UK and the Suzy Lamplugh Trust.
Michelle has also worked closely with domestic abuse campaigner, Claire Throssell MBE, whose two children were murdered by their own father in October 2014, on a court approved access visit. Discussing the toolkit, Clare Throssell said: “This toolkit paves the way to reporting on an issue that affects all of society and, handled correctly, the articles written may lead to lasting changes in the UK and across the world.”
This evolving resource is free to access and aims to ensure the reporting of domestic abuse is survivor centred, allowing the voices of those who have been impacted to be heard in a meaningful manner.